Survivor Winner Relieved of Abuse Charges

August 29 -- Survivor winner Richard Hatch was cleared of a second-degree child abuse charge Monday, after state prosecutors in Rhode Island opted to dismiss his case.

In April, the 39-year-old corporate trainer was accused of roughing up his 9-year-old son and forcing him to run. The boy told police that his father had wrapped his hands around his neck when he said he was too tired to continue a jogging session.

Hatch said his son made up the story and is suing his hometown of Middletown, R.I., and the state of Rhode Island for wrongful arrest and defamation. Hatch said Monday that the announcement that prosecutors had dismissed the charges was further proof that his constitutional rights had been violated, the Associated Press reports.

Hatch is suing Middletown to the tune of $1 million — the same amount he was awarded Aug. 23 for outlasting other contestants on the popular CBS game show Survivor. He has also filed suit against the state's child welfare agency, which, he alleges, wrongfully took his son from his home after the incident. The boy was returned home on a judge's order shortly after Hatch's arrest.

Prosecutors did not give an explanation for the dismissal.